The popularity of poker seems to be on the rise in Pennsylvania with the news that there has been a surge in revenue from poker tables in the state’s casinos. The Keystone State’s official gambling authority, the Gaming Control Board, said that casino raked in $4.5 million during September 2016. This number was up 4% from the $4.3 million that was redeemed by casinos in September 2015.
There are now 225 poker tables scattered among the brick and mortar casinos in Pennsylvania. Of the state’s 12 casinos, ten of them offer poker to their gambling visitors.
The casino which reported the highest revenue intake from its poker tables with Parx Casino. This gaming location has 45 poker tables – quite a big proportion of the overall number of poker tables in the states. Parx Casino made $1.3 million from its poker tables in September 2016, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Table games are very popular in Pennsylvania, with the state offering a total of 1,200 tables across its casinos. The total revenue from these games for September 2016 reached nearly 470 million – a 4.3% increase from the $65.9 million recorded in the same month last year.
Poker revenue in 2016 has been dipping and rising in the $4.4 million to $5.1 million range since the beginning of the year. It peaked in March with revenues of $5.166 million, with the lowest amount recorded in June.
In other Pennsylvania casino numbers, the following was shown:
• The combined gross revenue for slot machines and table games in September was $261 million (2.9% increase year on year).
• Slot revenue was a reported $192.1 million (2.4% increase year on year).
• Parx Casino brought in the greatest revenue (10%) at nearly $46 million.
• The Parx Casino registered a 20% increase in table games revenue.
• The SugarHouse Casino saw revenues climb 12% compared to last September.
In the meantime, many questions remain unanswered regarding the future of gambling expansion in Pennsylvania. The Senate is in the process of mulling online gambling laws which would bring in significant revenue to any of the state casinos who choose to take part in this new industry.
So far, hearings related to the introduction of online gambling in Pennsylvania have been largely positive, with voices of support heard across the board.
